CNN follows The Rockaway Times

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CNN follows The Rockaway Times. After we posted video of last week’s explosions from a transformer that was knocked out by lightning and heavy rain, the network contacted us about using the video. We directed them to someone who goes by Mash Ka on Facebook. She sent us the original great footage. Often our best photos and videos come from our readers. Mash Ka’s video reached more than 80,000 people through our Facebook page. Last week’s cover included a still shot from that video.

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Remember our cover with the three bicyclists crossing a frozen Jamaica Bay? That classic was sent to us by Dan Mundy. And early on, we got a picture from Jay Butler, as his son Joe paddled on a boogie board looking out at a massive whale. And there was the Rockhenge photo Ed Gormley sent us with the sun setting perfectly down Cronston Avenue. And Timmy Burke’s photo of the bike on the beach, its reflection seen on wet sand, adorned our Summer Guide. The point is, our readers – you! – help make us what we are. THANKS! PS: Send your photos to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and if you’ve got video – contact us through Facebook.

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The “secret” group of women who attended the Women’s March, featured in last week’s paper, is not so secret after all. Jean Belford says she began the group and anyone is welcome to be a part of it.

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As they say on roller coasters, hold onto your toupees. It was a windy Tuesday. How windy was it? According to the National Weather Service, the mightiest wind of the day was a gust of 43 mph around 1:30 in the afternoon.

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Esther Konig, one of the owners of The Park Inn and the old Sand Bar, and adjacent vacant stores on Beach 116th Street, says The Park Inn will be transformed into Assisted Living with a different clientele. More medical, more geriatric. The building will get an overhaul with the change. As for the stores, they will be developed separately. Surveys and the like are being done. At a summer meeting with local business owners she said we “want to see good things happen.”

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As for the vacant theater, well, nothing. Michael Konig owns that property and made some noise about converting it to an urgent care a few years back. He once again seems willing to let it rot further.

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The ferry dock is being installed at Beach 108th. As the reality of the popular transportation option unfolds, we would like to remind Mayor de Blasio what he said at the Rockaway St. Patrick’s Parade in 2016: “This is the most important part. This is not temporary ferry service. This is permanent ferry service starting next spring, 2017.”

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Rest in Peace, Greg Trooper. Reader Kathleen Stokes brought it to our attention that he died on January 15. Greg performed often in Rockaway. In addition to living here for a few years before Sandy, he is connected to Rockaway through the Mullally Family. Prayers go out to his friends and family.

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Interesting Fact: You can’t buy pepper spray online and have it shipped to a New York address. We tried. So we asked for some suggestions of local places where you can purchase it. Belle Harbor Chemist on Beach 129th has it. So does SMK Pharmacy on Beach 88th.